Prior to L.A.’s 7 p.m. tip in Toronto on Wednesday night, I was an American talking to a Spaniard in Canada.

Raptors point guard Jose Calderson, one of Pau Gasol’s closest friends and Spanish National Team cohort, gave us a few minutes to talk about Pau’s game, the growth of Spanish hoops and what his taller countryman is like off the court.

Calderon, who happens to be one of the league’s nicest guys, has struggled to overcome a hamstring injury that first bothered him in the Olympics, even keeping him out of the gold medal game against the U.S. Yet and still, he’s averaging 13.3 points, 8.6 assists, 3.2 boards and nearly a steal a game.